STAFF from County Square shopping centre, Ashford, will live the high life by taking part in a sponsored zip wire event to be staged at Folkestone Racecourse on Saturday, March 24.

The centre has assembled a magnificent team of seven who will ascend to the roof of the main stand, which is four storeys high, and zip down a 150-yard wire to the track itself.

Each participant has pledged to raise a minimum of £75 in sponsorship to take part in the daredevil challenge.

The cash raised is to go to the Pilgrims Hospice, which this year is marking 25 years of care in east Kent and also to children's road safety charity the Kent and Medway Walking Bus.

The plucky employees, who work for various stores, have the full backing of County Square management, which itself has stepped in as a major sponsor providing a donation of £800 towards the event.

Other key sponsors include Invicta Motors and Greenacre Sports Partnership.

Carole Coleman, manager of Shoe Express is one of those taking part. She said: "The zip wire is a personal challenge for me, as well as being a great team-building exercise for County Square staff and a brilliant way of raising funds for some worthy causes."

Commercial Manager Frances Burt said that County Square was keen to support the zip wire. She said: "The shopping centre is very much a part of the community and is pleased to support such great charities. The Pilgrims Hospice is very prominent in east Kent and a cause close to the hearts of everyone who lives here."

County Square is undergoing a major revamp at the moment, which will see the shopping centre expand by another 33 per cent, when work is completed in March 2008.

The £60m project will use glass and light-coloured stone to create a spacious and airy arcade and the development has seen prominent retailers sign up to be included in the new-look centre. Debenhams, Next and H&M are already confirmed, with negotiations underway to sign other top stores up to the scheme.

Staff taking part are; Mick Webb, operations manager, County Square, Dean Jones, customers services, Lauren Coules, Kilburns Jeweller, Carole Coleman, Shoe Express, Leanne Alderidge, Clarks manager and Richard Burt, County Square maintenance contractor.

It's not too late to sign up for the event and to take part you can sign up online at www.kentwalkingbus.org

The event is promoted by the Walking Bus and organised b Avalon Adventures. For information about the event call Simon Dolby on 07989 164 752.